Todd Frets to Sanders: Have Dems ‘Done Enough’ to ‘Stop’ Tax Bill?

During an interview with Vermont Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders on Sunday’s Meet the Press, moderator Chuck Todd exposed just where he stood on the GOP tax reform bills making their way through Congress. And after questioning Sanders about the Democratic Party’s efforts to halt tax reform, he wanted to know about the Democratic Party’s latest efforts to impeach President Trump.

“I know you are not a fan of this bill at all. Okay, I know where you believe the priorities are all wrong,” Todd prefaced as he led into his first question for the Senator. “Has the Democratic Party collectively done enough, you think, in the institution of the House and the Senate to stop this bill?”

Sanders did little to quell Todd’s fear of the bill ultimately passing Congress and being signed by the President. “Well, one of the absurdity of this whole process is the Republicans made a decision to go forward without any Democratic Party input,” the Senator complained, overlooking just how he and his colleagues passed ObamaCare.

The Senator then flew into the canned liberal talking points about how the tax cuts were only for millionaires and billionaires, and how the middle-class was going to receive a hefty tax hike. They were claims that had been debunked over a month ago by The Washington Post, who gave four “Pinocchios” for similar assertions.

But Todd didn’t say anything to correct the Senator. He was more interested in how the Democrats were going to stop the bill that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called the “apocalypse.” “I understand that. But what's realistic? You don't have the votes and is it trying to find one more Republicans? Where are you in this,” he demanded to know.

After the discussion on stopping the GOP from giving Americans a tax cut, Todd wanted to know where Sanders stood on impeaching President Trump:

Let me go to this impeach question here, is Tom Steyer right, that it’s time to look at that option? There was already a House vote this week. Many Democrats weren’t ready to get on that bandwagon yet, where are you on this issue?

As much as Todd wanted to portray the House impeachment vote as something dangerous to Trump it really wasn’t. In a vote of 364-58, Democrats largely sided with Republicans to table the motion and it seemed mostly like a stunt designed to show off in fundraisers for those who participated. And if it really was something, then why did Todd’s own network refuse to report it Wednesday night after it happened?

Sanders was hesitant to back such an impeachment effort by his colleagues, citing how it was too soon and they had to wait for Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation to wrap up. “I think there is a process that has to be followed,” he explained. “But I think jumping the gun does not do any good. You have to bring the American people onto this issue. You don’t want to make it into a partisan issue.”

Transcript below:

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CHUCK TODD: Let me start with the issue of taxes here. Since we just ended that with Senator Scott. I know you are not a fan of this bill at all. Okay, I know where you believe the priorities are all wrong. But what should the Democratic-- Has the Democratic Party collectively done enough, you think, in the institution of the House and the Senate to stop this bill?

BERNIE SANDERS: Well, one of the absurdity of this whole process is the Republicans made a decision to go forward without any Democratic Party input. What they made a decision to do is operate behind closed doors on an issue that impacts every single American. There was not one public hearing. What this tax bill is about is nothing more than a gift to billionaire campaign contributors to the Republican Party.

You have 62 percent of all the tax benefits going to the top 1 percent, 40 percent going to the top 1/10 of 1 percent and at the end of ten years. 83 million American middle-class taxpayers were paying more in taxes and 13 million people will lose their health insurance and they're going to run up a deficit $1.4 trillion. This is not a tax bill designed to help the American people. It is a tax bill design to help the wealthiest people in the country and the largest corporations and I am going to do everything I can to see that it is defeated.

TODD: I understand that. But what's realistic? You don't have the votes and is it trying to find one more Republicans? Where are you in this?

SANDERS: It’s not true. Senator Corker has made it clear that it’s absurd that we would run up a deficit of $1.4 trillion. He's right. There are other senators and Senator Rubio has his concerns, McCain has his concern, and Collins has her concerns.

(…)

10:51:49 AM Eastern

TODD: Let me go to this impeach question here, is Tom Steyer right, that it’s time to look at that option? There was already a House vote this week. Many Democrats weren’t ready to get on that bandwagon yet, where are you on this issue?

SANDERS: I think there is a process that has to be followed. I think Mr. Mueller is doing a good job on his investigation. And if Mueller brings forth the clear evidence that there is collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians, I think you have grounds for impeachment. But I think jumping the gun does not do any good. You have to bring the American people onto this issue. You don’t want to make it into a partisan issue.

(…)

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